A bill to provide for interagency tabletop exercises to assess the impacts of Department of Defense decisions during crises and evaluate United States Government tools available to augment Department of Defense capabilities in competition, crisis, and conflict, and for other purposes.
Term Dictionary
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- Congress.gov Legislative Glossary - Comprehensive congressional terms
- NVFC Congressional Terms Glossary - Concise, easy-to-understand definitions
The gist
Requires the Defense Department to run practice 'tabletop' war games with economic agencies and businesses to study how military moves during a crisis would hit the US economy.
Who wins, who loses
- Wins: Pentagon planners, Treasury, Commerce, and businesses that get a seat at war-planning tables.
- Loses: no one materially; planning exercise only with no new restrictions or major spending.
What it does
- Orders the Secretary of Defense to invite Treasury, Commerce, Transportation, the US Trade Representative, and the National Economic Council to exercises.
- Adds private-sector reps to unclassified Department of Defense (DoD) tabletop drills.
- Sets two goals: assess economic fallout of DoD crisis decisions and find economic tools to back up the military.
- Requires a briefing to Congress's defense committees by December 31, 2025.
Why should I care?
Supporters say modern conflicts mix military, trade, and supply-chain weapons, so the Pentagon should plan with economists in the room. Critics argue inviting private companies into defense planning risks conflicts of interest and information leaks. Where do you land? Vote below and use "Tell Your Rep" to make sure your voice reaches Congress.